Category: Champagne

Moët Hennessy’s Profits Rise 18% In 2011

Moët Hennessy’s net revenue increased 8% to €3.52 billion ($4.62b) in 2011, as profits from recurring operations for the year jumped 18% to €1.1 billion ($1.44b). Fourth-quarter revenue was up 9.4% to €1.21 billion ($1.59b).

Moët Hennessy attributed trading up in the Champagne business as well as strong upward momentum by Hennessy Cognac over the past year as key growth factors.

Moët Hennessy’s company-wide Champagne volume (led by Moet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot) rose 0.5% to 4.6 million cases globally last year, according to Impact Databank.

Liz Palmer
@champagnehouses

London’s Cadogan Hotel Launches “Champagne Bath Menu” just in time for Valentine’s Day

While most couples celebrate with a glass or two of Champagne on Valentine’s Day, The Cadogan has unveiled such indulgence of bubbly on a somewhat larger scale, by bathing in it!

“The Champagne Bath Menu” offers four imaginatively indulgent creations and is available from Valentine’s Day onward. You will have one of the most extravagant unforgettable experiences, in true celebrity style.

Did you know that it takes approximately 120 bottles of Champagne to fill one of Cadogan’s baths? Yes, it does! Not only will a personal butler will fill your bath with Champagne, your Champagne bathing experience is also accompanied by chocolate-covered strawberries, and a bottle of vintage Champagne.


Champagne Bath Menu
~ Per Bath ~

Louis de Custine Brut – £4,000
Perrier Jouet Grand Brut – £6,000
Perrier Jouet ‘Blason’ Rose – £8,000
Dom Perignon Vintage – £25,000
~

The Cadogan
75 Sloane Street
Knightsbridge
London
SW1X 9SG

Reservations:
020 7235 7141
www.cadogan.com

Taittinger is the Champagne of choice for SAG Awards

During the 18th Annual Screen Actor Guild Awards ceremony behind the scenes event at The Shrine Auditorium Champagne Taittinger is the Champagne of choice.

The results are in after months and weeks of voting, Hollywood’s actors finally name their picks for the best performances in the films and TV shows of 2011 at the annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

The SAG honors, which are closely watched in the race for Oscars, follow the Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice given by media watchers, as well as acknowledgements from the U.S. Producers Guild and Directors Guild, which represent their respective professional groups in industry matters.

The SAG Awards are a key barometer of which films and actors have a good chance at winning Oscars, the world’s top film honors given on February 26 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, because performers make up the largest voting branch of the academy.

The SAG Awards air on U.S. TV on Sunday night from Los Angeles on cable networks TNT and TBS, and on Global Television in Canada.

Liz Palmer
@Champagnehouses

CELEBRATE WITH CHAMPAGNE – EASY TIPS ON CHOOSING CHAMPAGNE FOR YOUR WEDDING

Selecting the right effervescent is a must for your wedding as it is the first bottle to be opened ….but not all bubbly is the same! While there are many quality sparkling wines produced around the world, true Champagne only comes Champagne France!

CHAMPAGNE STYLES

• Not all Champagne is alike. There are a variety of Champagne styles available, from full to light-bodied, Vintage to Rosé, as well as various levels of sweetness. One fun way of finding out which Champagne is right for your wedding is to host a Champagne tasting party as a bridesmaids’ activity. Using half bottles is a great way to cut costs while exploring the diversity of Champagne.

• Levels of sweetness include: Brut Natural (driest of the dry);
brut (very dry); extra brut (extra dry, but sweeter than brut); sec (medium sweet); demi-sec (sweet, considered a dessert wine) and doux (very sweet, considered a dessert wine) – keep this as a guide when ordering.

• Types of Champagne include: blanc de blancs which is made entirely from the Chardonnay grape. These Champagnes are light, elegant, and refreshing. A richer style is blanc de noir which is made entirely from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. This Champagne will have a dark gold color with the slightest tinge of pink, and finally rosé Champagne. The winemaker adds a small amount of Pinot Noir to base the wine blend.

SHOPPING ADVICE

• Having an accurate and up-to-date guest list will assist you when ordering.

• You should plan for 2 glasses of Champagne per guest.

• A bottle of Champagne fills 6 glasses (8 if the flutes are narrow).

• You don’t have to break the bank to serve Champagne at your wedding. This one-of-a-kind wine is available at a wide range of price points.

SERVING

• Champagne should be well chilled – this can be done by placing the bottle in a bucket of ice and water for 30 minutes prior to serving.

• Champagne should be poured in front of guests – part of the pleasure is seeing the bubbles froth up in the glass as it’s poured, and at the same time capturing the aromas.

• Use tall, tulip or flute glasses, which capture and promote bubbles and concentrate its aromas, while improving the experience. Saucer-type glasses should not be used as they cause the bubbles to disappear rapidly and are awkward to hold.

T I P S

• Brut is considered the classic choice.

• If you plan to use Champagne for cocktails choose extra brut Champagne.

• Rosé Champagne with its pink hue not only contributes to the romantic twist of the celebration but also stands out as a unique and memorable alternative.

• In serving a glass of champagne with the wedding cake, I recommend sweeter demi-sec champagne.

• Suggest to the venue manager that you would like to taste the Champagnes before you decide – this is a perfectly reasonable request.

MY PICK

Blanc de Blancs Champagne is a perfect wine for toasts. The name literally means “white of white,” a perfect complement to the wedding gown.

No matter what Champagne you choose, it is certain to add an air of festivity to your special day. After all, Champagne is the quintessential wine of celebration!

Liz Palmer
@Champagnehouses

The start of production for 23rd James Bond film “Skyfall” has been announced. Rumors are flying over which Bollinger Cuvée will be featured.


Following the recent announcement that the 23rd Bond Film will be called “Skyfall” with release date of October 2012, rumors have been flying thick and fast!

Who will be singing the theme song? Will this be Daniel Craig’s last Bond film? Will the budgets equal those lavished on Quantum of Solace?

Craig’s fellow cast members include: Dame Judi Dench, Albert Finney, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw.

Producers have confirmed is that Skyfall will take Bond on another action-packed mission to London, Shanghai, Istanbul and Scotland.

Champagne Bollinger has been Bond’s Champagne of choice since its first appearance on screen in ‘Live and Let Die’ in 1973.

It was Bollinger R.D. 1975 in View to a Kill, and Bollinger R.D. 1969 in Moonraker, both of which Bond recognized by vintage.

The question is which Bollinger Cuvée will be featured in Skyfall?

Liz Palmer
@champagnehouses